Chinese J-15 Fighter Has Close Call with Japanese Patrol Plane Monitoring PLA-N Aircraft Carrier

Chinese fighter jets approached dangerously close to a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) P-3C surveillance plane over international waters in the Pacific twice, according to Japan's Defense Ministry, which described the incidents as "abnormal approaches" by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N).

The two incidents occurred last weekend as the P-3C monitored the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong. On Saturday, a J-15 fighter launched from the Shandong shadowed the Japanese aircraft for about 40 minutes and came within 45 meters while flying parallel. The following day, another J-15 crossed just 900 meters in front of the P-3C’s path during an 80-minute encounter—close enough to raise the risk of collision.

Images released by the ministry showed the J-15 was armed with missiles.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi addressed the incidents at a press conference on Thursday, stating, “The government has raised serious concerns with the Chinese side, including to the Chinese ambassador in Tokyo, and has strongly urged them to prevent such incidents from recurring.” He added that Japan “will continue to spare no effort to ensure vigilance and surveillance” to protect its territorial airspace and waters.

This marks the third instance since 2014 of Chinese aircraft making such close approaches to Japanese patrol planes. Two earlier incidents occurred over the East China Sea near the Japan-controlled, China-claimed Senkaku Islands, with Chinese jets coming within 30 meters of Japanese patrol planes.

The latest encounter comes as both of China’s aircraft carriers, Shandong and Liaoning, were reported operating simultaneously in the western Pacific for the first time. Japan's Defense Ministry confirmed the Liaoning was spotted conducting flight operations southwest of Minamitorishima Island, marking its first known activity beyond the second island chain—a boundary often used in strategic naval planning.

Chinese authorities defended the exercises. Senior Capt. Wang Xuemeng of the PLA Navy called them “routine training” to test capabilities in far-seas defense and joint operations, stressing that they did not target any specific country. A Foreign Ministry spokesperson also stated that the operations complied with international law and urged Japan to view them “objectively and rationally.”

Japan delayed public disclosure of the incidents to allow for interviews with the P-3C crew and analysis of flight data.

In recent years, encounters between Chinese military aircraft and those of other nations have raised concerns across the Indo-Pacific. The U.S. reported nearly 300 risky aerial intercepts by China since 2021. In February, a Chinese helicopter came within three meters of a Philippine patrol plane over the South China Sea, while a Chinese jet deployed flares near an Australian aircraft.

Analysts say these close encounters risk miscalculation and escalation. While Beijing claims much of the South China Sea under its "nine-dash line" policy, an international tribunal ruled in 2016 that most of these claims had no legal basis—a decision China rejects.

As tensions rise, Japan is strengthening air defenses in the Pacific region, including new radar deployments under its 2022 Defense Buildup Program.